If your roof paperwork says Firestone, you are in the right place. Firestone Building Products is now Holcim Elevate, and many Ventura buildings still have Firestone-branded EPDM, TPO or PVC roofs installed under the old name. The products and the repair approach carry over, but the first job is the same as always: figure out exactly which membrane is up there and what shape it is in.
We start with a walk of the whole roof. We look at the seams, the flashing at parapets and curbs, the drains, scuppers and metal edges, and every patch someone else has added. Warranty certificates or original drawings help, and we check them against the roof itself. A commercial roof inspection is the usual starting point.
What we find in Ventura tends to follow a pattern. Strong UV and the salt-laden marine layer near the coast age seam tape, adhesives and exposed metal faster than the membrane in the middle of the roof. Winter storms then push water into whatever has opened up. That is why our estimates focus on edges, laps and flashings first, and why we do not assume the whole roof needs replacing just because it is old.
The roof product and earlier repairs
Holcim Elevate’s commercial line covers EPDM, TPO and PVC, and each is repaired with its own materials. EPDM laps are taped or glued. TPO and PVC seams are heat-welded, but TPO and PVC will not weld to each other. Getting the membrane type right decides what we can use.
We confirm it by looking closely at seams and edges. If dirt or old coatings make that hard, we take a small sample and patch the spot the same day.
Earlier patches need their own look. Roof cement over an EPDM seam, an off-brand patch on a TPO roof or a coating brushed across a lap can keep new material from bonding. Those spots usually get cut out. If your roof is PVC, our PVC roofing page covers how those seams and flashings are handled. We follow Holcim Elevate’s published installation requirements for whichever product is actually installed, rather than treating every former Firestone roof the same way.
The permanent details included in the bid
A roofing bid that lists only square feet of membrane leaves out where most of the work really is. On Holcim Elevate and Firestone roofs, leaks usually trace back to a short list of spots: lifted seams, flashing pulled away from a wall, failed pipe boots, loose termination bar, rusted metal edge and worn curb flashing under rooftop units.
We list each of those by location in the estimate, with what comes off, what stays and what goes on new. You can walk the roof with the estimate in hand and see every item.
That also makes it easier to compare bids. If you are also pricing a Johns Manville system, ask for the same detail list so the two estimates cover the same walls, curbs and drains. And if new insulation raises the roof, check the height at door thresholds, parapet caps and curbs before the job starts. We do that during the inspection, because a curb that is too short to flash correctly is much cheaper to deal with on paper than in the middle of a tear-off.
Backing removal and rebuilding
A leak that shows up as a stain in a tenant’s ceiling often started somewhere else entirely. Water runs through the insulation under the membrane and can soak a large area before anyone notices. Before closing up a repair, we find the edges of the wet area with core cuts, and on bigger roofs with an infrared or moisture survey.
Wet insulation is cut out and replaced. A rusted metal deck or soft wood deck is repaired before the new membrane goes on. Dry insulation stays in place, which keeps the cost down without trapping moisture.
Every honest bid for your roof should include the same underlying repairs. A Versico system priced for the same building still has the same wet insulation and deck to fix. If opening the roof reveals more damage than the cores showed, we stop, photograph it, mark the area on the roof plan and give you a price before going ahead. The open section is sealed at the end of every workday. Nothing gets covered over until you have seen it and agreed to the fix.
Related Roofing Work
Equipment duties ahead of detail work
A lot of roof repairs depend on someone else going first. If an HVAC unit sits on a curb that needs new flashing, your mechanical contractor may need to disconnect it, lift it or shut it down for part of a day. Solar racking, exhaust fans and conduit can raise the same issue.
We sort that out before the schedule is set. The estimate lists which items need another trade, what we do once they are clear, and how long our part takes. Your facility team can then book everyone in the right order instead of paying for a second trip.
Building operations matter too. A grocery store may only allow roof work before opening, an office may need adhesives kept away from air intakes, and a warehouse may have trucks on the dock all day. When the job has to happen over several visits, we plan for that and seal each stopping point so the roof stays watertight overnight. After each visit we send a quick summary: what is complete, what is waiting on another trade and what is left. That keeps a half-finished curb from being counted as done.
Your records when the job is finished
Every building is a little different to work on. In Downtown Ventura, tight alleys and street parking make staging a real question, so we plan hoist spots, deliveries and debris removal before the crew arrives. Sites closer to the harbor or out in East Ventura usually have more room but more equipment on the roof.
At the end of the job you receive the Holcim Elevate products installed, a roof plan marking every repair, and dated photos taken before each repair was covered.
That package becomes a roof condition report you can share with an insurer, a buyer or the next contractor. Anything we did not open, and anything still waiting on another trade, is listed separately. If your roof carries a Firestone or Holcim Elevate warranty, find out whether it is still active and what the manufacturer requires for repairs before work begins. We can help you track that down.
Common Questions
Is my Firestone roof now a Holcim Elevate roof?
Yes. Firestone Building Products became Holcim Elevate, so a roof installed with Firestone EPDM, TPO or PVC is serviced as part of the Holcim Elevate line. Before ordering repair materials, we still confirm on the roof which membrane you have, what condition the seams and flashings are in, and what older patches are made.
How should I compare a Holcim Elevate bid with another manufacturer?
Compare them repair by repair. Each bid should cover the same seams, wall and curb flashings, drains, edges and wet insulation at the same locations. If one leaves those items vague, it is usually cheaper because it covers less work, not because its roof costs less.
What if rooftop equipment is blocking a flashing repair?
Your mechanical contractor may need to disconnect, lift or shut down the unit first. We put that step in the estimate, help schedule it, and keep that curb listed as open until the new flashing is installed and checked, so nobody assumes it is finished before it is.
What do I get when the work is complete?
You get the Holcim Elevate products installed, a roof plan showing every repair, and dated photos taken before the work was covered. Areas we did not open and items still waiting on other trades are listed separately. That gives the next contractor, inspector or buyer a clear record of what was done and where.
Have your Holcim Elevate or Firestone roof checked
Send us the address, the areas that leak or look worn, and any Firestone or Holcim Elevate paperwork you have. We will confirm the membrane, inspect the details and give you a clear estimate for the repairs your roof needs.